Arianespace: Amazon puts the French group into orbit with a historic contract

Elise Denjean, edited by Gauthier Delomez with AFP 8:00 p.m., April 05, 2022

This is the largest contract in the history of Arianespace.

The French group sees its order book almost triple for Ariane 6 with Amazon.

The American giant announced on Tuesday unprecedented contracts with three space launch companies with the aim of improving global access to broadband through satellites.

Of the 80 planned launches, 18 will be carried out by Ariane 6.

A contract worth several billion euros

Although no amount has been disclosed, the contract represents several billion euros for Arianespace, which is gaining ground in the race for low orbit.

This is the pride of its executive president, Stéphane Israel.

“It is obviously a very great day for Arianespace and for all its partners, for the entire Ariane industry in Europe”, he welcomes at the microphone of Europe 1. “The market is actually in the process of explode. Its size could triple in the next few years", he underlines, adding that "the contract signed this morning (Tuesday) is an extremely strong first indication".

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Get the first shot and increase the rate

The 18 firings of Ariane 6 will be spread over a period of three years and should start in 2024. The president of the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes), Philippe Baptiste, reminds Europe 1 that we will have to go quickly because this new rocket will not make its first flight until the end of the year.

"We have to succeed on the first shot and we also have to manage the ramp-up of the launcher, and perhaps make some adjustments," he explains.

Essential elements to "launch industrial production at a high rate", indicates the president of Cnes.

Arianespace is already wondering about the rates.

For the moment, the Ariane 6 rocket is only designed for eleven to 12 launches per year.